Heather Morgan, an American, and Maria del Mar Verdugo, a citizen of Spain, were close friends for 10 years before they fell in love.

“Always in the beginning, we realized we wanted to be together forever,” said Verdugo. She and Morgan got married in New York city two years ago with their friends and families in attendance. “We knew our commitment to each other, but we wanted to make that commitment public, something that even in society’s eyes is a binding commitment to each other,” Morgan said.

They hope to begin a family soon, but Verdugo can’t receive a spousal visa, because she and Morgan are a same-sex couple. She may remain in the U.S. only as long as her work visa is valid.

“Just beyond the challenges any couple has, we have that complete uncertainty and the idea that at a moment’s notice, Mar could be forced to leave,” Morgan said.

Most Americans married to citizens of other countries have the right to seek legal immigration status for their spouses. But same-sex couples like Morgan and Verdugo, although they now may legally wed in nine states, have no such right. Read more...